The U.S. Census Bureau announced that July 2006 sales of merchant wholesalers were $331.7 billion, up 0.4% from the revised June level and 12.6% from July 2005 level. The June preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.7 billion, or 0.2%. July sales of durable goods increased 0.1% from last month and 10.4% from July 2005. July sales of nondurable goods were up 0.7% from last month, and 14.7% from last year.

Total inventories were $382 billion at the end of July, up 0.8% from last month and 8.8% from July 2005. End-of-month inventories of durable goods increased 0.9% from June and were up 9.2% from last July. Compared to last month, inventories of metals and minerals, except petroleum, increased 2.7% and electrical and electronic goods and supplies also increased 2.7%. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods grew 0.5% from June and 8.2% from last July.

The July inventories/sales ratio for wholesalers was 1.15. The July 2005 ratio was 1.19.

Find more details at MDM’s Databank.